We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paul Mardy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Paul thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
My journey as a creative began at a young age. My parents tell me that I would sing and bang on whatever I could find to make music. So without question, they knew that music would spark something in me. I started with the piano at the age of three, and from there, I learned several other instruments. A little under a year ago, I was contracted to play six different instruments during a show: the piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, and recorder. I was determined to be on Broadway. That was until the start of the pandemic, which was also when I started getting more into photography. Leaping from being a musician hoping to perform in a Broadway pit to pursuing a photography career was undeniably the most considerable risk I have ever taken!
However, life has a way of surprising us; when the pandemic hit, I suddenly had all this extra time. A dormant hobby I had picked up during my college years suddenly became an obsession. I constantly wanted to learn new techniques and lighting, and there was always a flickering flame of curiosity within me when capturing moments through the lens.
Once my contract ended with the American Repertory Theater, I entered the unknown, packed my bags, and ventured to “The City of Angels.” I wasted no time! Without skipping a beat, I immersed myself in the vibrant Los Angeles creative community. I collaborated with models, videographers, stylists, makeup/hair artists, and all types of creatives, just learning as much as possible about the photography industry.
Paul, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve learned the fundamentals of storytelling growing up in a Haitian/Dominican household. Haitian Creole and Spanish are incredibly expressive languages my family and I would speak with plenty dramatics and theatrics built in the simplest of phrases.
I’m a creative, I’m a storyteller, I’m an artist.
Sometimes I story-tell with an instrument and sometimes with a camera. Those two mediums of artistry don’t exist mutually exclusively in my life.
As a photographer, I get calls to do random things all the time. Some days I’m m a photojournalist, a fashion photographer, an event photographer… you name it! While I would consider myself a portrait photographer simply because that’s where I started, I love learning all forms of photography. It only makes me a better artist and allows me to refer to a rolodex of techniques when returning to portraits.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
This past June, I was fortunate enough to shoot in South Africa. I would hope to have more opportunities to take my camera around the world and explore the beauty that surrounds us.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
One goal is to create a better future for other underrepresented groups and share the diverse stories that exist within those of the African diaspora. I want to use my art to serve others! With my camera, people trust me to represent them and how they want to be seen by the world and to themselves. With great power comes great responsibility; There’s a level of intimacy with every shoot— as a photographer, you have the ability to shape the subject in front of you with light, color, and perspective. I have the power to reimagine whatever is in front of the lens. My vision is to amplify the voices of those who are unable to speak for themselves, give power to those who are often powerless, and shine light where there is often shadow.
While my journey may have taken unexpected bends, I believe that life’s twists and turns are what makes it fascinating. Embracing change and following my vision has led me to this beautiful path of creativity, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paulmardyphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul.mardy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulMardyPhotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mardy
Image Credits
Paul Mardy